Quotes from book
The Heart of the Matter

The Heart of the Matter
Graham Greene

The Heart of the Matter is a novel by English author Graham Greene. The book details a life-changing moral crisis for Henry Scobie. Greene, a British intelligence officer in Freetown, British Sierra Leone, drew on his experience there. Although Freetown is not mentioned in the novel, Greene confirms the location in his 1980 memoir, Ways of Escape.

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“Point me out the happy man and I will point you out either extreme egotism, selfishness, evil -- or else an absolute ignorance.”

Graham Greene book The Heart of the Matter

Source: The Heart of the Matter

Graham Greene photo

“There was a tacit understanding between them that 'liquor helped'; growing more miserable with every glass one hoped for the moment of relief.”

Graham Greene book The Heart of the Matter

Source: The Heart of the Matter

Graham Greene photo

“It was like having a box of chocolates shut in the bedroom drawer. Until the box was empty it occupied the mind too much.”

Graham Greene book The Heart of the Matter

Source: The Heart of the Matter

Graham Greene photo

“Of two hearts one is always warm and one is always cold: the cold heart is more precious than diamonds: the warm heart has no value and is thrown away.”

Graham Greene book The Heart of the Matter

Source: The Heart of the Matter

Graham Greene photo

“He gave her a bright fake smile; so much of life was a putting off of unhappiness for another time. Nothing was ever lost by delay. He had a dim idea that perhaps if one delayed long enough, things were taken out of one's hands altogether by death.”

Graham Greene book The Heart of the Matter

Source: The Heart of the Matter

Graham Greene photo

“A single feat of daring can alter the whole conception of what is possible.”

Graham Greene book The Heart of the Matter

Source: The Heart of the Matter

Graham Greene photo

“In our hearts there is a ruthless dictator, ready to contemplate the misery of a thousand strangers if it will ensure the happiness of the few we love.”

Graham Greene book The Heart of the Matter

Source: The Heart of the Matter

Graham Greene photo

“Friendship is something in the soul. It is a thing one feels. It is not a return for something.”

Graham Greene book The Heart of the Matter

Source: The Heart of the Matter

Graham Greene photo

“We'd forgive most things if we knew the facts.”

Graham Greene book The Heart of the Matter

Source: The Heart of the Matter

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